WILLIAM BYRON

Ryan Blaney will get his crew chief back for the most important weekend of his NASCAR season after an untimely suspension.

HOMESTEAD, Fla. — (AP) — Kyle Larson found his way into NASCAR’s headlines for a second consecutive week. Even though Larson can’t win the title, his Hendrick Motorsports team still can — very much in the mix for an owners’ championship. The four-car field for the title race will be decided next week in Martinsville, with seven drivers heading there to compete for three remaining spots. “You’re going to see aggressive driving.”Hamlin is on the wrong side of the cutline going into Martinsville. NEXT YEARHomestead occupies the same spot on the 2023 NASCAR schedule — second-to-last, just before Martinsville and the title race in Phoenix.

Kyle Larson found his way into NASCAR’s headlines for yet another week.

Bubba Wallace is missing Sunday’s NASCAR race, and that’s evidently not his only sanction after losing his cool in Las Vegas last weekend.

The focus in NASCAR has yet to shift to the actual playoff racing as only three events remain to crown a new Cup champion.

LAS VEGAS — (AP) — Joey Logano became the first driver to qualify for NASCAR's championship finale by using fresh tires to chase down Ross Chastain and win Sunday at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Logano is NASCAR's 2018 champion and advanced to the title-deciding finale for the fifth time in his career. Logano used a late pit stop for new tires in a Team Penske attempt to give him a shot at the win. Kyle Busch, who was eliminated from the playoffs in the first round, finished third in a Toyota for Joe Gibbs Racing. Logano is locked in to the finale, while Chastain, Hamlin and regular-season champion Chase Elliott are above the cut line.

Joey Logano became the first driver to qualify for NASCAR’s championship finale by using fresh tires to chase down Ross Chastain and win at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

The NASCAR Cup Series begins its playoff Round of 8 this weekend in Las Vegas with eight drivers vying for a spot in Phoenix’s championship race next month. It is the youngest Round of 8 crop in the history of the Cup playoffs with Christopher Bell, Chase Briscoe, William Byron and Ross Chastain advancing this far for the first time. Tyler Reddick starts from the pole, while William Byron starts highest among playoff drivers inside the second row. Tyler Reddick enters +900 while Chastain and two-time champion Kyle Busch open with a +1000 moneyline. NASCAR Cup Series playoff standings entering the weekendChase Elliott - 4,046Joey Logano - 4,026Ross Chastain - 4,021Christopher Bell - 4,018Ryan Blaney - 4,015William Byron - 4,015Denny Hamlin - 4,013Chase Briscoe - 4,009Weather for the South Point 400It's Las Vegas and it's not winter.

The NASCAR Cup Series begins its playoff Round of 8 this weekend in Las Vegas with eight drivers vying for a spot in Phoenix’s championship race next month. ET (USA, NBC Sports app, MRN, SiriusXM)Sunday, Oct. 16Pre-race show: 2 - 2:30 p.m. ET (NBC)South Point 400: 2:30 - 6 p.m. ET (NBC, NBC Sports app, MRN, SiriusXM)Post-race show: 6 - 7 p.m. NASCAR Cup Series playoff standings entering the weekendChase Elliott - 4,046Joey Logano - 4,026Ross Chastain - 4,021Christopher Bell - 4,018Ryan Blaney - 4,015William Byron - 4,015Denny Hamlin - 4,013Chase Briscoe - 4,009Weather for the South Point 400It's Las Vegas and it's not winter.

Christopher Bell saved his title chances with an overtime win Sunday on the road course at Charlotte Motor Speedway in a stunning finish that knocked reigning NASCAR champion Kyle Larson from the playoffs.

Trackhouse Racing will make its 100th start on Sunday at Charlotte Motor Speedway with drivers Ross Chastain and Daniel Suárez still in the championship competition.

William Byron's 25-point penalty has been overturned by a NASCAR appeals panel. Hendrick Motorsports’ appeal of Byron’s penalty was successful on Thursday after it lobbied that Byron didn’t deserve a 25-point penalty for spinning Denny Hamlin under caution. NASCAR didn’t allow Hamlin to get his spot back in the top five after the spin while Byron kept his track position. NASCAR inexplicably said after the race that it didn’t see Byron spin Hamlin despite Hamlin’s car ending up in the grass and his team shouting for Byron to be penalized on the radio. To make up for missing Byron’s spin of Hamlin in real time, NASCAR said days after the race that Byron had been penalized 25 points and fined $50,000.

An appeals panel on Thursday reinstated the 25 points William Byron had been docked by NASCAR for deliberately spinning championship rival Denny Hamlin, a critical decision that helps his playoff hopes. The three-person panel found that Byron did break a NASCAR rule for spinning Hamlin under caution.

William Byron's run-in with Denny Hamlin at Texas on Sunday cost him critical points in the NASCAR playoffs. His team is appealing the discipline.

There was also a 56-minute red flag for lightning, and a record 36 lead changes among 19 drivers. Logano was concerned about the vibration in the right rear of his car throughout the closing laps. None of the four playoff races so far have been won by a driver still eligible for the title. Hamlin stayed alongside with Byron during the caution period, livid because of the position he was losing on the track. I wouldn’t blame Goodyear.”Goodyear and NASCAR officials said there were several teams that didn’t have tire issues.

The 334 laps at Texas Motor Speedway provided quite a tumultuous start to the NASCAR playoff round of 12.

Tyler Reddick picked up a victory Sunday at Texas, but there was a major feud brewing between Denny Hamlin and William Byron as the playoffs heat up.

Tyler Reddick got his third win of the season in a race at Texas Motor Speedway that NASCAR wants to forget as soon as possible. While numerous drivers had tire problems throughout the course of the race, three drivers crashed out from the lead because of tire problems. NASCAR said that Hamlin didn’t maintain minimum speed and made him line back up outside the top 10. NASCAR was forced to throw scheduled cautions during that race because the tire didn’t have any durability. NASCAR didn’t schedule any tire cautions on Sunday, but you couldn’t have blamed them if they did.

Chase Elliott is the big favorite for the 2022 NASCAR Cup Series title ahead of the second round. Elliott is at +275 to win his second Cup title at BetMGM. Thirty four points separate Elliott from 12th-place Austin Cindric ahead of the three races in the second round. The second round includes races at Texas, Talladega and the Charlotte Roval and eight drivers will advance to the third round. No drivers scored automatic berths to the second round of the playoffs because of a win in the first round.

Bubba Wallace won his second career NASCAR Cup Series race and denied the playoff field of an automatic spot in the next round for the second straight week when he held off championship contenders Denny Hamlin and Christopher Bell to win at Kansas Speedway.

Erik Jones took the lead when Kyle Busch’s engine blew up, then pulled away from Denny Hamlin after a final restart 20 laps from the end to win the opening NASCAR Cup Series playoff race at Darlington Raceway on Sunday night.

Austin Dillon avoided a massive wreck in the rain to win at Daytona International Speedway and snag a playoff spot in the Cup Series’ regular-season finale.

Chase Elliott has won the NASCAR Cup pole at Watkins Glen International, edging Hendrick Motorsports teammate Kyle Larson for the top spot.

NASCAR: FireKeepers Casino 400 Aug 22, 2021; Brooklyn, Michigan, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Matt DiBenedetto (21) and driver Ryan Blaney (12) and driver William Byron (24) and driver Brad Keselowski (2) during the FireKeepers Casino 400 at Michigan International Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Mike Dinovo-USA TODAY Sports - 16609452NASCAR heads to one of its fastest circuits as it returns to Michigan International Speedway for the FireKeepers Casino 400. (All times ET)Saturday, August 6Practice: 12:35 - 1:20 p.m. (streaming on NBC Sports app)Qualifying: 1:20 - 2:30 p.m. (streaming on NBC Sports app)Sunday, August 7FireKeepers Casino 400: 3 - 6 p.m. Weather forecast for the FireKeepers Casino 400 weekendIt's summer in Michigan so that means heat, humidity and thunderstorms. Despite its placement on the calendar, only one of the last five August races at Michigan have not been interrupted by rain.

Kyle Larson was the start of a Grand Prix in Philadelphia run by the Urban Youth Racing School.

Chase Elliott salvaged a crummy day for Hendrick Motorsports and interrupted a potential Toyota rout by winning the rain-drenched race at Nashville Superspeedway on Sunday night.

NASCAR is bringing its top series to World Wide Technology Raceway near St. Louis for the first time this weekend.

Chase Elliott lost his tire, then his mind ... Joey Logano sends a warning to William Byron and Dale Jr. said what about Kurt Busch?

“The (Next Gen) car has less side force and less general downforce,” Hamlin said of all the wrecks. Just chaos.”Cup veteran Kevin Harvick expected as much after seeing the uncertainty the Next Gen car has brought this season. “To me, that was the most fun Charlotte race I’ve ever ran,” Briscoe said. You could throw sliders.”He offered high praise for the Next Gen car, too. I’d do another 600 miles for sure.”Hamlin acknowledged there is still a lot that teams needs to learn about the Next Gen car but said that will come in time.

NASCAR’s Coca-Cola 600 was many things.

Denny Hamlin held off Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Kyle Busch in overtime to win the longest — and perhaps wildest — Coca-Cola 600 in history.

Kyle Busch, the 2017 All-Star winner, was on the pole for the main event. After winning the All-Star race last June, Larson also won the Cup playoff race at the 1 1/2-mile Texas track in the fall. “Took off good on that start,” said Stenhouse, who advanced to his fourth All-Star race. The inaugural All-Star race was held in Charlotte in 1985, with Atlanta hosting in 1985 before 33 in a row in Charlotte. Harvick is in his 22nd All-Star race, while Kurt Busch is in his 21st.

Ryan Blaney had to go two extra laps after thinking he had already won NASCAR's All-Star race and $1 million.

The All-Stars during qualifying Saturday night were the pit crew members for Kyle Busch.

NASCAR Kansas Auto Racing Justin Haley (31), Denny Hamlin (11), and J.J. Yeley (15) head into Turn 1 during a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Kansas Speedway in Kansas City, Kan., Sunday, May 15, 2022. 45 car — one of the numbers that Jordan wore during his NBA career — to a stop at the start-finish line after his first win at Kansas Speedway. His older brother, Kurt, beat him to the line to win the second stage with Elliott again coming across in third. Larson kept riding the top line around the mile-and-a-half oval, often brushing the wall, while Kurt Busch was able to put his Toyota just about anywhere he wanted. UP NEXTThe series takes a regular-season break before the Coca-Cola 600 and heads to Texas for next weekend's All-Star race.

Kurt Busch pinched his way past Kyle Larson for the lead with eight laps to go, then drove his gaudy Jordan Brand-styled car away from the reigning NASCAR Cup Series champion to win Sunday’s race at Kansas Speedway.

NASCAR Darlington Cup Auto Racing Kyle Larson (5) leads a pack of cars down the front stretch during a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Darlington Raceway, Sunday, May 8, 2022, in Darlington, S.C. (AP Photo/Matt Kelley) (Matt Kelley)DARLINGTON, S.C. — (AP) — Joey Logano bumped leader William Byron from behind on the last lap to win the Goodyear 400 at Darlington Raceway on Sunday. Logano, the pole-sitter, tracked Byron for about 25 laps until catching him with one to go and hitting him hard in the rear bumper. Past champions Kyle Busch and Brad Keselowski were also out well before the finish. UP NEXT: The series moves to Kansas Speedway, where Kyle Busch is the event's defending champion. Kyle Larson won the October race in Kansas.

Joey Logano bumped leader William Byron from behind and into the wall on the next to last lap to win the Goodyear 400 at Darlington Raceway on Sunday.

Rain postponed Sunday's NASCAR Cup Series race at Dover Motor Speedway to Monday.

Ross Chastain surged into the lead as he closed in on the checkered flag Sunday at Talladega Superspeedway to steal his second career Cup Series win.

Christopher Bell won the pole at Talladega Superspeedway by turning the fastest lap as the final driver to qualify.

NASCAR Martinsville Auto Racing William Byron stand next to the trophy in Victory Lane after winning the NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Martinsville Speedway on Saturday, April 9, 2022, in Martinsville, Va. (AP Photo/Steve Helber) (Steve Helber)William Byron knew when he took over the No. If he had any doubts, a field trip with car owner Jeff Gordon made it clear. “I’ve just seen this team evolving,” said Gordon, who won nine times on the track. The team has won 27 races there, with seven-time champion Jimmie Johnson joining Gordon with nine of them. “Definitely is special, and he’s got, what, 93 wins and however many clocks,” he said of Gordon, a four-time series champion.

William Byron is making the guy that made the No. 24 Chevrolet famous proud.

MARTINSVILLE, Va. — (AP) — William Byron knew he was in for a big challenge with a two-lap overtime sprint about to start and the very aggressive Joey Logano right behind him. Byron and the top eight cars on the track opted not to pit, with Byron picking the inside lane and Austin Dillon, running second, on the outside. Logano bumped Byron in Turn 2 on the last lap, but Byron held on for his second win of the weekend. QUIRKYElliott's 185 laps led to begin the race matched what Darrell Waltrip did at the start of the 1980 race at Martinsville. Martin Truex Jr., who'd won three of the last five races here, finished 22nd and Christopher Bell was 20th.

William Byron took the lead on pit road after Stage 2 pit stops and held it pretty much the rest of the way at Martinsville Speedway to become the first repeat winner this season in NASCAR’s Cup Series.

RICHMOND, Va. — (AP) — Denny Hamlin ran down William Byron with five laps to go Sunday and ended the slowest start to his career with a victory in the Toyota Owners 400 at Richmond Raceway. He then held off a challenge from Kevin Harvick, a three-time winner at Richmond. Just drove as hard as I could,” Hamlin said after climbing from his car, crediting his team for not giving up. “There was no doubt in my mind, maybe just a little, but they got this car right there towards the end. Harvick was second, followed by Byron, Truex and Kyle Larson.

Denny Hamlin ran down William Byron with five laps to go and ended the slowest start to a season of his career with a victory in the Toyota Owners 400 at Richmond Raceway.

It was quite the weekend in motorsports, which is typically the bit player on the massive stick-and-ball sporting landscape so eager for its own time in the spotlight.

Wallace still seemed to be in the most enviable position, especially if he could get a helpful push for a slingshot on the final lap. But everyone behind Byron started jostling for position, all of them wanting to put themselves in position to make the winning move. Kyle Busch gave Austin Dillon a slight bump from behind entering the quad-oval, sending Dillon into the wall. “I was in the gas wide open and the 18 (Busch) pushed us and got me loose,” Austin Dillon said. That’s the second week in a row I've been taken out.”At Phoenix, Daniel Suarez made contact with Dillon on the final lap and sent the No.

William Byron has managed to hold off the freight train behind him, taking the checkered flag for his third NASCAR Cup victory at Atlnta Motor Speedway.

William Byron had a freight train in his rearview mirror. While Byron cruised to the checkered flag for the third victory of his NASCAR Cup career, one last crash unfolded behind him Sunday in an appropriate finish to a chaotic, thrilling race at remodeled Atlanta Motor Speedway. “Pretty wild,” the 24-year-old Byron said.

Chase Briscoe raced to his first NASCAR Cup Series victory, executing two great restarts over the final 20 laps to pull away from Ross Chastain and Tyler Reddick on Sunday at Phoenix Raceway.

Alex Bowman beat NASCAR champion Kyle Larson in a door-to-door overtime battle at Las Vegas Motor Speedway that sent Hendrick Motorsports to victory lane for the second consecutive week.

Defending NASCAR Cup Series champion Kyle Larson held off Austin Dillon and Daniel Suarez in a tense finish Sunday to win at Fontana for the second time.

Denny Hamlin crashed out of the Daytona 500 on Sunday, ending his bid for a fourth victory in NASCAR’s premier event.

Chase Elliott skipped the free agency process and agreed to a five-year contract extension with Hendrick Motorsports announced mere hours before the season-opening Daytona 500.

Jeff Gordon called NASCAR races for Fox when his old boss popped in for a visit and left behind a note. Rick Hendrick had good-naturedly posted hours of his 12-plus-hour work days for his former star driver. “I knew I could never live up to that,” Gordon said, laughing.

NASCAR is in Los Angeles a week ahead of the Super Bowl with its wildest idea yet.

Presentation of the Mexico Formula 1 circuit ahead of this weekend's Mexican Grand Prix. VIDEOGRAPHIC

With a 14th NASCAR Cup Series championship on the line this weekend, team owner Rick Hendrick on Tuesday defended his decision to extend his sponsorship deal with Liberty University as the school faces scrutiny over its handling of sexual assault allegations. Hendrick Motorsports last month reached a new five-year agreement to extend the school’s support of driver William Byron and the No. 24 Chevrolet. Twelve women filed a lawsuit in July, accusing the evangelical Christian institution of a pattern of mishandling cases of sexual assault and harassment, and fostering an unsafe campus environment.

A conversation on driver code and on-track etiquette is raging in NASCAR, and with it comes debate about the expectations of non-playoff drivers.

Tensions are high at every level of NASCAR as its grueling, 11-month season enters the homestretch with three weeks remaining to crown three series champions. All eyes had been on feuding drivers Chase Elliott and Kevin Harvick, but NASCAR last week demanded the they knock it off — a directive that sucked all the drama out of what could have been a nail-biting rivalry capable of derailing Elliott's shot at a second consecutive Cup Series title. Are drivers taking too many risks trying to make it to the championship round?

Rick Hendrick wants NASCAR to intervene in the ongoing feud between reigning Cup champion Chase Elliott and Kevin Harvick after another on-track incident between the two.

Kyle Larson rallied from early electrical issues Sunday to win for the seventh time this season and storm into the third round of NASCAR’s playoffs.

Kevin Harvick has never been knocked out of the playoffs in the second round since NASCAR introduced the format in 2014.

NASCAR's playoffs shift to Talladega Superspeedway on Sunday for the middle race of the second round.

Instead, all four Hendrick drivers go to Las Vegas with their title chances still intact and Larson returning to the site of his first victory of the season. “Las Vegas has been incredible for us,” Keselowski said. That’s really what it boils down to this time of year.”ODDS AND ENDSLarson is the 10-3 favorite to win at Las Vegas, according to FanDuel. ... UFC President Dana White, country music recording artist Matt Stell and comedian Jim Breuer are among the headliners for Las Vegas pre-race activities. ... Keselowski leads all active drivers at Las Vegas with three victories.

Kyle Larson returns to Las Vegas Motor Speedway looking for yet another victory.

Kyle Larson denied Kevin Harvick his first win of the season with a masterful pass at Bristol Motor Speedway.

Alex Bowman and William Byron both start Saturday night's race at Bristol Motor Speedway below the cutline, and reigning series champion Chase Elliott isn’t breathing any easier than his Hendrick teammates. He was sixth at Bristol in the spring, but that race was run on dirt and delayed a day by dangerous rain and flooding. He likes Bristol, but in 21 career starts has an average finish of 30th. Nutrien AG is in its third season of sponsorship and funds 19 Xfinity Series races for Jeb Burton. If he's not retained in the Xfinity Series, he could have a shot at driving the second Cup car that Kaulig will field as a “trophy hunter” driven by specialists.

Hendrick Motorsports is in a precarious position heading into first playoff elimination round.

NASCAR Richmond Auto Racing William Byron (24) and Kyle Busch (18) race into turn one during the NASCAR Cup series auto race in Richmond, Va., Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021. (AP Photo/Steve Helber) (Steve Helber)RICHMOND, Va, — (AP) — Martin Truex Jr. assumed the lead when Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Kyle Busch was penalized for speeding with about 50 laps to go and won the NASCAR Cup Series race at Richmond Raceway on Saturday night. The victory was the third for Truex in the last five races at Richmond. Truex led a 1-2-3 finish for JGR, with Denny Hamlin finishing second and Christopher Bell. McDowell finish 37th — last — last week and had three speeding penalties and finished 29th at Richmond.

Martin Truex Jr. assumed the lead when Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Kyle Busch was penalized with about 50 laps to go and won the NASCAR Cup Series race at Richmond Raceway.

DARLINGTON, S.C. — (AP) — Denny Hamlin held off Kyle Larson after their cars hit nose to tail racing to the finish line Sunday night in the Southern 500 to open the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs. But Hamlin held firm up near the wall to take the checkered flag“He was going to have to go through me,” Hamlin said. Hamlin broke out ahead of Larson on the restart 36 laps from the end. Earlier, Daytona 500 winner Mike McDowell hit the wall on the backstretch on lap 30 and was done for the day. UP NEXTThe NASCAR Cup series playoffs continue at Richmond, Virginia, on Saturday.

Denny Hamlin held off Kyle Larson after their cars hit nose to tail racing to the finish line Sunday night in the Southern 500 to open the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs.

Ryan Blaney took the lead from William Byron on a late restart and bobbed and weaved his way across the final seven laps to win at Michigan International Speedway.

Some of NASCAR's top drivers are taking extra health precautions for the playoff chase.

INDIANAPOLIS — (AP) — AJ Allmendinger took advantage of two frightening multi-car crashes, the leader getting spun out and a penalty — all in the final five laps — to win the Brickyard 200 on Sunday at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Making only his second NASCAR Cup start of the season, the 39-year-old Allmendinger raced to his second career Cup victory and gave Kaulig Racing its first win in only the organization's seventh series start. But the 0.929-second victory over Ryan Blaney in the first Cup race on the 14-turn, 2.439-mile road course was marred by two huge pileups that brought out red flags. A few moments later, seven more cars crashed in the same spot and again the race was halted. UP NEXTAfter back-to-back road races, the Cup circuit returns to an oval next Sunday at Michigan International Speedway.

(AP Photo/Darron Cummings) (Darron Cummings)INDIANAPOLIS — (AP) — William Byron got some help this week preparing for NASCAR's first road race at Indianapolis. The 23-year-old North Carolinian captured the pole for the Brickyard 200, posting a fast lap of 100.044 mph on the 14-turn, 2.439-mile road course at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. It's the first time Cup Series drivers will use the twisting road course instead of the traditional 2.5-mile oval. Chase Briscoe, who won last year's Xfinity Series road race at Indy, will start second on Sunday after going 99.561 mph. Team Penske won twice Saturday, first with Will Power capturing a historic fifth IndyCar win on the road course.

AJ Allmendinger took advantage of two frightening multi-car crashes, the leader getting spun out and a penalty — all in the last five laps — to win the Brickyard 200.

NASCAR drivers got their first laps on Indianapolis Motor Speedway's road course in practice — and it opened to mixed reviews.

Kyle Larson and Chase Elliott are looking for redemption at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

NASCAR Xfinity Nashville Auto Racing Cars come down the main straightaway at Nashville Superspeedway during a NASCAR Xfinity Series auto race Saturday, June 19, 2021, in Lebanon, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey) (Mark Humphrey)LEBANON, Tenn. — (AP) — New track, same old names atop the leaderboard. William Byron, Kyle Larson and Chase Elliott paced the first ever Cup Series practice at Nashville Superspeedway in yet another display of how dominant Hendrick Motorsports is right now. Asked what it will take to beat a Hendrick driver, Ryan Blaney of Team Penske had only one idea: “Wreck ’em, I guess." Dover Motorsports owns the track and moved one of its weekends from its Delaware facility to Nashville to re-open the speedway and at last host a Cup race. Ryan Preece, Kyle Busch and Ross Chastain all entered Friday night's Truck Series race and Preece won in his first career start in a truck.

That long-term goal can become a reality Sunday when Hendrick goes for win No. 269 in the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. “We’ve had 268 circled for so long, I don’t even know what 269 is going to be like yet,” said Chad Knaus, vice president of competition at Hendrick Motorsports. He finished fifth in the Coca-Cola 600 last season. The Coca-Cola 600 is the only Cup Series race of the season that is broken into four stages of 100 laps each.

And heading to Kansas Speedway this weekend, the former NASCAR Cup Series champion has yet to reach victory lane, even though it seems as if just about everybody else has. “It's not a position we haven't been in before,” said Harvick, whose three Kansas wins are tied for most in history. It's not that Harvick and Hamlin haven't been fast; the two have spent most of the season running in the top 5. Especially when you have a great opportunity to win.”Like Harvick and Hamlin, Kyle Busch and Chase Elliott hope to turn their success at Kansas into a long-awaited win. ... Xfinity Series driver Matt Mills will make his Cup Series debut for BJ McLeod Motorsports in the No.

Chase Elliott does a burnout after winning a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Charlotte Motor Speedway Thursday, May 28, 2020, in Concord, N.C. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome)CONCORD, N.C. NASCAR's grueling return to racing finally ended with a Cup victory for Chase Elliott. The event, postponed Wednesday night, was the fourth Cup race since the series resumed racing May 17. Man this is a tough week, we've had some tough losses," Elliott said from the frontstretch. Elliott reeled in Kevin Harvick with 27 laps remaining and closed out the victory. Elliott's victory was the first for a Chevrolet driver in NASCAR's return to Cup racing.

A man walks through the infield as rain falls before a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Charlotte Motor Speedway Wednesday, May 27, 2020, in Concord, N.C. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome)CONCORD, N.C. Rain washed out the Cup Series race Wednesday night at Charlotte Motor Speedway a slight break for NASCAR teams taxed by a grueling return to racing. The race was rescheduled for Thursday night at 7 p.m., which in turn forced NASCAR to move the Xfinity Series race scheduled for Saturday at Bristol Motor Speedway. The Xfinity Series race will instead be run Monday night, a day after the Cup Series. The second consecutive Wednesday night race would have been the fourth for the elite Cup Series since May 17. The starting order for the second Cup race at Charlotte this week was set based on the finishing order of the Coca-Cola 600 but with an inversion.

Then a caution with two laps remaining at Charlotte Motor Speedway cluttered Elliott's clear path to the win and gave Keselowski an opening. Now Keselowski returns to Charlotte Motor Speedway for a Wednesday night race and a shot at consecutive victories. That was the situation we were put in.Both Keselowski and Busch could empathize with Elliott's heartbreak at Charlotte. Keselowski spoke with Elliott as the two switched spots in front of a laptop during the post-race Zoom media availability. But Elliott's team has been the most consistent late in races and Wednesday brings another chance for the driver to finally get his first win of the season.

His Hendrick Motorsports team bounced back with a competitive Chevrolet in the 600 that Elliott drove to the front late in the race. Theres no other choice.KESELOWSKI SHOWS HIS WORTHA Daytona 500 victory is the only crown jewel race Keselowski is missing on his resume. "I hope to continue to compete at a very high level and be able to win races for a long time. Weve got a race win at a major on a team thats really just starting to click together. I hope it does because this is my 30th win at the Cup level with Team Penske.

There were 17 cars were involved in the Big One accident in Turn 1 on Lap 119 taking out several top contenders for the Coke Zero Sugar 400 win. 2:45 p.m.Austin Dillon led a Chevrolet charge to win Stage 2 of the Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona International Speedway. Bowyer led an outside lane charge by Ford drivers. After the pit stops, the lead drivers were Joey Logano, Ryan Newman, Erik Jones, Austin Dillon and Chase Elliott. [PHOTOS: On the grid before the start of the Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona]2:19 p.m.Kurt Busch's No.

The drivers exited their race cars as pit crews covered the stock cars resting on pit road. Ford drivers comment on Big One crash in Turn 1. 2:45 p.m.Austin Dillon led a Chevrolet charge to win Stage 2 of the Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona International Speedway. After the pit stops, the lead drivers were Joey Logano, Ryan Newman, Erik Jones, Austin Dillon and Chase Elliott. 9 Chevy of Chase Elliott, who was ahead a group of Ford drivers.

There are 33 laps left in the Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona International Speedway. 2:45 p.m.Austin Dillon led a Chevrolet charge to win Stage 2 of the Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona International Speedway. [PHOTOS: On the grid before the start of the Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona]2:19 p.m.Kurt Busch's No. 1:15 p.m.Joey Logano, who started from the pole position based on points, led the first 15 laps of the Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona International Speedway. The Coke Zero Sugar 400 had gone green at Daytona International Speedway.

DAYTONA BEACH Well, now, it appears the old Firecracker 400 wont just fizzle into the darkness in its final Independence Day visit to Daytona. Brad Keselowski nearly triggered the Big One in practice, mind you and afterward suggested he's ready to light off another bottle rocket if necessary. Change of the times, I guess.Since 2002, Daytonas July race, like Februarys Daytona 500, has been preceded by an Xfinity Series race. In the 17 seasons with two Xfinity races at Daytona, the only sweep came in 2003 when Dale Earnhardt Jr. did it. Following the Xfinity cars, the Cup Series cars will begin qualifying at 4:35 to determine rows 1 through 20 for Saturday nights race.